Noble family House of Esterhazy Role 1533–1604 Parents Benedek Eszterhas | Name Ferenc Esterhazy People also search for Daniel Esterhazy | |
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Spouse(s) Zsofia Illeshazy de Illeshaza (1566–1599) Mother Ilona Bessenyei de Galantha Children Nikolaus, Count Esterhazy, Daniel Esterhazy, Tamas Esterhazy, Pal Esterhazy, Gabor Esterhazy, Istvan Esterhazy Grandchildren Tamas Esterhazy, Ladislaus, Count Esterhazy, Farkas Esterhazy | ||
Ferenc Esterházy de Galántha (English: Francis Esterházy of Galántha; 1533–1604) was a Hungarian noble, who served as Vice-ispán (Viscount; vicecomes) of Pozsony County since 1579. He was the ancestor of the wealthy and prestigious House of Esterházy.
His parents were Benedek Zerhas de Zerhashaz (or Eszterhas), from the kindred of Salamon, and Ilona Bessenyei de Galántha. He was the first from his family who used the title of "Galántha" (galánthai) when he inherited the lordship of Galánta (today: Galanta, Slovakia) from his mother. Following his father's death in 1553, he built a Renaissance-style mansion in 1600. Another, Neo-Gothic castle situated in the town built by two of his sons, Dániel and Pál in 1633.
Ferenc participated in the 1596 campaign against the Ottoman Empire. He served in the army under commander Count Miklós Pálffy. His son, István was killed in the Battle of Keresztes on 26 October 1596.
Family
Ferenc Esterházy married to Zsófia Illésházy de Illésháza (1547–1599), sister of Palatine István Illésházy, in 1566. They had several children: